I’ve talked about where we’ve come from and what my vision is.  Now I’d like to focus on my qualifications.

Why I’m the person for the job

• I don’t think I’m the only person who can ever do the important job of Chief, but for right now – I believe I am the best person until some key things are completed. I have lots of experience, but I’m the first to admit I don’t know everything, and that means I know I need to get good help by experts in different fields to ensure we do the best for our community.  It is also why I have always placed great importance on the need to have open, transparent consultation with our Membership. To think we can figure out some of this stuff without help or without input from the Membership would be arrogant.  We need to use all the resources available to us – and I believe I have the connections and resources, through years of hard work, to bring us the success to move our community forward.  I have contacts in both the Liberal and NDP parties, as well as the business community that we have already greatly benefitted from.  I also have a good reputation with the media and public.
• Our economic development projects need a stable government for many reasons.  Industry needs stability in order to invest.  I have taken great strides on building our community’s reputation and this work has brought some of the best developers in North America to our door step.  This is because of our reputation of being stable and moving beyond Indian Act politics and moving into a transparent rules based system that is predictable.  Risky moves to bring us back to Indian Act politics, including actions which have serious conflict-of-interest and transparency concerns, threaten our ability to attract solid investment.
• I am respectful to our community.  I don’t recall publicly insulting any one of our members in my entire career.  I may have disagreed with them, or even infuriate them with my views, but I have never called down our people in a public meeting.
• As an emerging government, our little community has opportunities to become extremely successful.  But the risks are also at an all-time high – if we fail, it’s our youth and future generations we will be failing.   Navigating this difficult time requires experience and proven problem solving skills like I have. I believe it is in my community’s best interests if I were to lead this organization for the near future.
• I will continue to work with the community in a transparent and open way.  Community engagement really is where my heart is.  Our consultation isn’t a checklist to get through, it is a valuable process that has led to very good decisions for our community.  And I believe we can do an even better job.  The members retreat is one idea, but I’m sure there are many more ways we can work together to build our community.
• If you elect me as Chief, you get me as Chief.  I won’t delegate this responsibility to another member of council.  I will run the meetings, be able to discuss our issues competently with other politicians, lead strategy, and have respect from our staff.
• I do not stand to make millions of dollars from residential development – in fact I will make sure our entire community benefits from all development.  I have the time to devote to this job, and if I believe that I have conflicts of interest, I make sure I do not participate in those discussions.    This is a powerful commitment I feel very strongly about.
• I have the qualifications for the job.  I have some postsecondary education and was recently honored with an honorary Doctorate of Laws from SFU to recognize my expertise in First Nation’s governance.  I also have taken leadership and governance training over the years to improve my skills.  I am recognized as an expert throughout Canada on First Nation issues.
• I have a proven track record of doing what it takes to get things done.  A 22 year track record – with countless overtime hours for treaty negotiations and implementation.  When I first became chief I didn’t take a pay increase that I was entitled to because we couldn’t afford it as an organization.  Only after we could better afford it did I accept the wage I was entitled to in our own policies.  I have worked tirelessly for our community, totally committed.  I have also sacrificed my own family life as my 3 daughters and ex-husband can tell you.  I have even stuck it out since the last election in spite of several better paying job offers.  I am in this because I believe in our future.

Stay tuned for 1 or 2 more installments on my platform.